1st Advantage MortgageThe median Red Lake County household earns $77,188, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Minnesota license first.
On this page
- Red Lake County, MN: the basics
- Renting and owning in Red Lake County
- Earnings across Red Lake County households
- Red Lake County's most unusual numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Red Lake County
- Red Lake County next to its neighbors
- Red Lake Falls and the rest of Red Lake County
- Before borrowing in Red Lake County
- People and households in Red Lake County
- Room for a loan payment in Red Lake County
- Who licenses lenders for Red Lake County residents
- Four steps for Red Lake County borrowers
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Red Lake County, MN: the basics
Roughly 3,915 residents live in Red Lake County, Minnesota, 85th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. It covers 432 square miles of land, or about 9 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Red Lake County is not part of any metropolitan area. Red Lake Falls (1,348 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 4 incorporated and 0 census-designated. Because Red Lake County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Red Lake County
Red Lake County rent at the median: $583 a month, utilities in ($1,280 in Minnesota). By the Census definition, 26% of Red Lake County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $162,000, a typical Red Lake County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. In Red Lake County, 83% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Red Lake County | Minnesota | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 48% | -21.8 pts |
| Owners | 83% | 72% | +11.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 2.9% | +5.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $583/mo | $1,280/mo | 54% lower |
| Median home value | $162,000 | $329,300 | 51% lower |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | -4.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 11% | 9% | +1.7 pts |
Because most Red Lake County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Earnings across Red Lake County households
At $77,188, the typical Red Lake County household income is 18% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Red Lake County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.9% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -8.8 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Red Lake County: 7.2%; Minnesota: 9.3%. Gini index for Red Lake County: 0.384. A household earning below the $77,188 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Red Lake County's most unusual numbers
Ranked against the other 86 county-level areas in Minnesota, these are the Red Lake County figures furthest from the middle.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 26% in Red Lake County, the lowest of 87 in Minnesota. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Red Lake County sits near the bottom of Minnesota at 1.1%, the lowest of 87. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Red Lake County ranks 2nd lowest of 87 Minnesota counties for median gross rent: $583/mo, against $1,280/mo statewide. Cheaper housing gives many renters more slack in a budget.
Jobs and commutes in Red Lake County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Red Lake County residents work in education and health care and 16% in retail trade. Wholesale trade stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.1% in Red Lake County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Red Lake County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.2% | -7.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.9% | +5.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 10.8% | +8.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +4.6 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Red Lake County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Red Lake County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 41 miles). Income ranges from $59,441 in Mahnomen County to $77,325 in Pennington County; 1 of these neighbors top Red Lake County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake County | - | $77,188 | $583/mo | 83% |
| Pennington County, MN | 14 mi | $77,325 | $862/mo | 72% |
| Polk County, MN | 16 mi | $73,107 | $855/mo | 71% |
| Marshall County, MN | 37 mi | $72,543 | $690/mo | 83% |
| Clearwater County, MN | 39 mi | $64,475 | $742/mo | 80% |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 39 mi | $59,441 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Norman County, MN | 41 mi | $72,260 | $774/mo | 79% |
Red Lake Falls and the rest of Red Lake County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Red Lake County residents live in one of the 4. No Red Lake County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake Falls | city | 1,348 | $64,342 | $511 | 9 mi |
| Oklee | city | 383 | $62,188 | $604 | 11 mi |
| Plummer | city | 369 | $76,458 | $810 | 4 mi |
| Brooks | city | 133 | $62,143 | $470 | 5 mi |
Before borrowing in Red Lake County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Red Lake County borrowers.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Red Lake County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Red Lake County borrower sees (free reports).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Red Lake County
In Red Lake County, 19% of adults have at least a four-year degree (39% in Minnesota). Health coverage gaps: 2.3% of Red Lake County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Red Lake County | Gap to Minnesota | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | +4.2 yrs | +1.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | -20.8 pts | -3.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | -1.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | -2.4 pts | -5.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | -3.3 pts | -2.0 pts |
| Work from home | 10.1% | -7.5 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | -2.1 pts | -6.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.1% | -3.0 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Minutes to work | Red Lake County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Room for a loan payment in Red Lake County
Red Lake County's $77,188 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,432 before taxes
- 9% goes to median rent ($583)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,733 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Red Lake County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Red Lake County residents
Red Lake County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Minnesota guide.
Four steps for Red Lake County borrowers
Quick steps for Red Lake County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Red Lake County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Red Lake County rank on income in Minnesota?
29th of 87, with a median of $77,188. The state median is $89,062.
Is Red Lake County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $583 against $1,280 statewide, and 26% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Red Lake County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Is Brooks covered?
Yes. Brooks is one of 4 Census places in Red Lake County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does living in Red Lake County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Red Lake County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.